H E A L T II
DIET AND EXERCISE
ILLUSTRATED BY STRIKING CASES.
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NEW-YO RK:
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QTA
H427
%* " Health is bo necessary to all the duties, as well
as pleasures of life, that the crime of squandering it is equal
to the folly ; and he that for a short gratification brings
weakness and diseases upon himself, and for the pleasure
of a few years, condemns the maturer and more experi-
enced part of his life to the chamber and the couch, may
be justly reproached, not only as a spendthrift of his own
happiness, but as the robber of the public,— as a wretch
that has voluntarily disqualified himself for the business
of his station, and refused that part which Providence as-
signs him in the general task of human nature." — Dr.
Johnson.
1TF The following Cases are from the Appendix to
LEWIS CORNARO, on health, just published at 376
Pearl-st., N. Y. uith Notes by SYLVESTER GRAHAM.
HEALTH.
CASE OF D E A . RICHARD CUNNINGHAM.
Since the notes to the Life and writings of
Cornaro were finished, I have become acquaint-
ed with the interesting case detailed in the fol-
lowing statement, which the aged and vene-
rable man has, with diffidence, consented to
communicate.
That the reader who is not personally ac-
quainted with Dea. Cunningham and knows
nothing of his history, standing and reputa-
tion, may the better understand and appreciate
the following communication, it may be well
to say ; that he was born in Mifflin County
Pennsylvania, in May 1762: and in 1787, at
the age of twenty-five, he came to the City of
New-York, where he soon after established
himself in business, in which he was very pros-
perous, and by which he accumulated a very
handsome property. When about thirty years
of age, he became a member of the Presbyte-
rian Church, then under the pastoral care of
the Rev. Doctor Rodgers; and about ten years
after, he was elected a deacon of the same
church ; which office he continued to fill till
he was about fifty years old, when he was elect-
ed an elder of the same church, which had, in
the mean time, passed under the pastoral care
of the Rev. Doctor Spring. About this same
period, he was also elected an Alderman of the
City, which office he continued to fill for sev-
eral years. Such was the known hospitality
of Dea. Cunningham, especially to the friends
of religion, that his house was for many years
familiarly called "the Clergyman's Hotel."
Seldom did he sit down to his own table without
the presence of a greater or smaller number of
guests : and the social charities of his heart were
as generous as his means were then ample.
He also took a lively and active interest in all
the moral and religious enterprises of the day,
which were calculated to extend the knowledge
of the truth and improve the condition of the hu-
man rf.ce. The kindness of his nature, however,
betrayed him into pecuniary responsibilities for
his friends; by which means, connected with
other reverses of fortune, he'was compelled to
forego those manifestations of hospitality and
social ahd-religious charity, which had afforded
so much enjoyment to himself, and comfort and
benefit to others.
The worthy old gentleman now, at the age
of seventy-one, sustains the office of an elder in
the Presbyterian Church in Prince-street.
Most of his time is actively devoted to the cause
of religion,- and he seems to be happily exem-
plifying the truth of the Scripture which saith,
that the path of the just is as the shining light,
that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.
A very great and manifest change, for the
better, has taken place in his health, within the
last four years, as is well known to all his per-
sonal friends. His complexion has now that
clearness and freshness and ruddiness, and his
countenance much of that plumpness and ani-
mation which belong to early youth. And he
has repeatedly assured me that he never enjoy.-
ed life so well before.
. New-York, April 3d. 1833.
Mr. Graham, — Sir,
Exceedingly reluctant, as I am, to hold up to view my
own experience, even in a good cause, yet I, yield to your
solicitation and the wish of friends, in presenting to you
the following brief sketch of my habits and course of life, —
especially as respects my regimen and health; being
deeply penetrated with the conviction that the cause, iu
which you are engaged, is of very great importance to the
temporal and spiritual welfare of mankind, and humbly
hoping that the statement I am about to make, may iu
some degree serve the interests of that cause.
During my childhood and youth, my health was such
as is ordinarily considered good ; and although I was sub-
ject to those occasional indispositions and ailments which'
are so common in civic life, yet till the age of forty, I
continued to enjoy what we usually call good health.
I ought however to state, that at the age of twenty, I
formed the pernicious habit of chewing and smoking to-
bacco. My dietetic habits, after I became established in
life, were not restrained, and yet not what was consider-
ed, by any means, excessive. I ate promiscuously of
such food as ordinarily comes upon the table of those who
have the means and the disposition " to live well :" using
brandy and water, and sometimes wine or other liquor at
my dinner; and occasionally also at other times of the day.
After I was forty years old, my health began to be less
uniformly good, — I began to feel some of those ailments
and infirmities, which indicate that we have past the me-
ridian of our days, and are commencing the decline of
life. From about this period, I almost every spring and
autumn, had a turn of sickness, attended with severe op-
pression of the chest, asthmatic difficulty of breathing,
head-ache, &c. &c. which obliged me to ha\ r e recourse
to medical advice and remedies. These difficulties grad-
ually increased upon me, — becoming more and more se-
vere. I was also much afflicted with depression of spirits,
and religious despondency, — often suffering greatand pain-
ful doubts concerning the genuineness of my faith and the
foundation of my hopes ; although I had been a professor
of religion from about the age of thirty, and many years
also, an officer in the church. Suspecting that the effects
of tobacco were injurious to my system, I abandoned the
use of it entirely, about the age of fifty. This reformation
in my habits proved very beneficial to me. My appetite
became more natural and uniform, and my food was taken
with much better relish. Still however, I was not re-
stored to health. My periodical turns of sickness regu-
larly recurred, and my infirmities gradually increased upon
me with increasing years.
When I was about sixty years old, seeing the evil el-
fects of intemperate drinking in others, and suspecting
that my own health was not benefited by the use of alco-
holic liquors of any kind, and sensible that no one, who
used them, was beyond the danger of excess, and that
they did no good, I concluded that it would be decidedly
best for me to abstain wholly from the use of them. And
although I had by no means been, what was considered
an immoderate drinker, yet, contrary to long-established
and almost universal opinion on this subject, old as I was,
and long as I had been accustomed to the moderate use
of ardent spirit, wine and beer, I was decidedly benefited
by a total abstinence from all such liquors. My appetite
and the relish of my food were still farther improved, and
in many other respects my health was better; and I suf-
fered less depression of spirits and religious doubt and
despondency than before. Nevertheless, I continued to
experience my semi-annual returns of sickness, and ex-
pected them every spring and autumn, as a matter of
course. My usual food was what is commonly called
good and nourishing. My dinner table was always well
supplied with flesh-meat, and I generally had a little beef
steak or some other flesh-meat at breakfast, and occa-
sionally a little smoked beef or tongue, at tea.
As the oppression which I suffered in my chest— diffi-
culty of breathing, head-ache &c. not only continued,
but, by reason of my increasing age, became more dis-
tressing, I was induced, at the age of sixty-seven, to make
an entire change in my diet. I abandoned at once the
use of tea and coffee, and of all animal food, and put my-
self on a diet of bread, and porridge made of Indian meal
and water. For a while at first, I felt some hankering
after the dishes which I had discarded ; and experienced
some lassitude in consequence of the absence of more
stimulating food; but in the course of about three months,
these all passed away, and I found my health improving
GxccGdin "! y.
It is now about four years since I adopted this simple
regimen, and my health has been continually improving
to the present time. I have not experienced a single turn
of my periodical sickness, nor indeed any other illness or
ailment, except perhaps, two or three times, a slight cold,
since I commenced my present mode of living. There
has not been a day, during the last four years, in which I
have not been able to be abroad, let the weather be what
it might:— nor have I hesitated to be out nights, habitually,
till eight or nine o'clock. 1 rise early ; and at five o'clock
in the morning, during the longer days of the year, and
at six during the shorter ones, I go out regularly to attend
a prayer meeting. When desirable, I can walk ten, and
sometimes fifteen miles a day, without any painful sense
of fatigue.
During the prevalence of the Cholera last summer, a
great many, in my immediate neighborhood, were sick
and died with that awful disease : and I visited several of
the sick, and was much exposed ; but through the whole
season, was perfectly well, not having the slightest symp-
toms of Cholera, nor any other indisposition.
Indian meal porridge and bread still constitute the prin-
cipal articlesof my diet. I however occasionally eat plain
boiled rice, potatoes, and other simple vegetables, and a
little milk. I think the bread made of unbolted wheat
meal, mixed with indian, decidedly preferable to any other,
for health and enjoyment. My appetite is excellent, and
I now enjoy my plain and simple fare, far better than I
ever did the richer dishes of my former days. Indeed I
now habitually and uniformly experience a high degree
of enjoyment of my food, and hope I am truly thankful
for the discovery that such simple fare is so conducive to
health and comfort.
My bodily strength and activity and general vigor have
improved very much on my new regimen, and I am now
quite as fleshy as is desirable, and enjoy much better
health than is common to men, considered well, at my
period of life.
Some of my friends still say to me, " you do very wrong
to live on such plain fare : you are an old man and re-
quire more stimulating food, and a glass or two of wine
with your dinner." But I can say to them ; — when did you
ever see me so perfectly healthy and so fleshy as I am
now, though upwards of seventy years of age? and why
should I forsake a regimen on which I enjoy myself, in
8
every respect, so much better than I did before I adopted
it, and return to the use of flesh and wine ? The truth is,
mankind are in a gieat error on this subject. Old men
no more require wine and stimulating food than children
do. Pure water is altogether the best beverage for human
beings at every period of life.
The effect on my mind is equally happy. I enjoy a
continual serenity and cheerfulness of spirit. My reli-
gious views and hopes and consolations are more clear
and steadfast and abundant. To those turns of doubt
and despondency, which before afflicted me, I am now
almost a stranger: and I am enabled to maintain "a clo-
ser walk with God," and to perceive spiritual things more
spiritually ; and the beauty of holiness appears to me more
exceedingly beautiful.
O, that all professing Christians, especially, and the
whole human family were properly enlightened on this
great and important subject of true "temperance in all
things." O, that men would use the common bounties
of Providence, as well as the riches of grace, as not abu-
sing them. Then might this world experience the univer-
sal reign of righteousness and peace and true joy. But
while human beings seek their supreme enjoyment in_
the indulgences of appetite, they lessen even the pleas
ures of the table, and they must expect from such sowing
to the flesh, to reap depravity and disease and suffering ;
and moral and spiritual darkness, and untimely death.
For " to be carnally minded is death : but to be spiritually
minded is life and peace." "From whence come wars
and fightings" among men, in families as well as in states?
— "Come they not hence, even of their lusts that war in
their members?''
With a deep sense of gratitude to Heaven, for the com-
forts I enjoy, I fervently pray that the cause of health
and longevity, and of moral and spiritual purity, which
you advocate, may be abundantly prospered, and that it
may go on with increasing success, till mankind generally
shall understand the laws of God in their own natures, as
well as in his revealed word, and by obeying them, and his
most holy will in all things, attain that fulness of temporal
good and eternal happiness, which he so benevolently of-
fers for their enjoyment.
Yours truly,
RICHARD CUNNINGHAM.
9
CASE OF JOHN LINTON.
While making a tour through Pennsylvania,
as the general agent of the State Temperance
Society, in the summer of 1830, I stopped for
a few days to rest myself, during the excessively
hot weather of July, at the hospitable mansion
of my highly esteemed friend, Dr. John H.
Gordon, in Bucks county. As I was sitting on
the piazza one morning, my attention was ar-
rested by the sight of a person on horseback,
who came galloping across the fields, and who
seemed tu manage his spirited steed, with all
the ease and grace of a trained equestrian.
" We have company in prospect," said I to
the doctor, who at that moment stepped upon
the piazza.
" Yes," replied he, peering inquisitively over
his glasses ; " but who can it be ?"
" He sits well upon his horse," said I, " and
rides with spirit ; I suspect it must be some
one of your chivalrous young bloods."
" Upon my word," replied the doctor, " I
believe it is my worthy neighbor, John Linton !
— indeed it is he — and I am glad of it. He is
coming over this morning to have a talk with
you."
" And who is your worthy neighbor, John
Linton," I inquired, with some curiosity.
" A very sensible and intelligent old gentle-
man, who resides on his farm, about a mile
from this," answered the doctor. " You will
be much interested in his conversation : and
his experience will afford you some valuable
facts."
" Old gentleman !" exclaimed I, with aston-
10
ishment, " I should take him to be a man in
the very pride and buoyancy of youth."
" True, he has the sprightliness and viva-
city of youthin an old body," replied the doctor.
By this time the horseman came wheeling
upon a full gallop up to the steps of the piazza ;
and suddenly checking his speed, hedismounted
with the elasticity and vigor of a young man.
I saw that he had indeed past the meridian of
life ; yet his movements, his activity, the
sprightly animation of his address, the bright
and intelligent look of his eye and countenance,
discovered much of the spirit, and vivacity of
early life. I perceived from his style that he
was a member of the society of Friends ; and
soon discovered that he was a man of no ordi-
nary intelligence.
After expressing his interest and satisfaction
in a lecture he had heard me deliver a few even-
ings before, he went on to say that the princi-
ples I had laid down, coincided exactly with
his own experience. He then gave me sub-
stantially the following narrative : —
" Having received a good education for a far-
mer's son, I was called early to take an active
part in the affairs of society, and continued for
many years to fill various civil offices of the town-
ship and county. By such means, I was, of
course, brought much into public intercourse
with men of all characters, conditions, and
habits ; and to some extent, obliged to conform
to the customs of those with whom I was under
the necessity of associating. At court times,
and on other public occasions, I was in the
habit of eating at the hotels and taverns, where
11
the tables were loaded with a great variety of
richly prepared and tempting food, and abun-
dantly furnished with liquors of different kinds.
I did not at the time, consider myself as ap-
proaching to the character of an intemperate
man in any respect, yet I freely partook of
the bounties of the table, and to a moderate
extent, indulged in the use of brandy and water,
wine, and other exhilirating drinks. These
things were by no means calculated to sim-
plify my own domestic board : but on the
contrary, caused me the more to desire what is
commonly called good living, at home. With
active and industrious habits upon my farm, I
enjoyed what is usually considered good health,
till after I had passed my fortieth year. I then
began to experience slight infirmities, and to
feel varioussytnptomsof declininghealth slowly
gathering upon me. At first, I paid little atten-
tion to these indispositions ; but after awhile
they became so troublesome, that I was induced
to consult physicians. Many of the prescrip-
tions which I tried seemed to afford a tempo-
rary alleviation, but on the whole I con-
tinued to grow more and more unwell, until
I found myself suffering under severe infirmi-
ties, and unable to attend to any kind of busi-
ness. I was then told that I had past the noon
of life, and was becoming aged : and that my
constitution was much impaired, and my body
worn out by the exceedingly active and labo-
rious habits and exposures of my past years.
This afforded me little consolation, and was in
no degree calculated to assuage my pains, or
render my decrepitude more tolerable. In
12
gpite of the various remedies which I contin-
ued to try, I still became more and more afflict-
ed and infirm. I was now approaching my six-
tieth year, and was so completely broken down
with disease and suffering, that it did not seem
possible, that I could survive many months
longer. Nothing seemed to have power to
remove my disorders and restore me to health.
My limbs swelled excessively: indeed I was
obliged to swathe my legs and feet to prevent
the skin from bursting ; and my arms and
hands were so much swolen, and so exceed-
ingly sore and painful, that I was not able to
raise my hand to my head. In fact, my whole
body was so sore and disordered that I had no
comfort in any position. My sight failed to
such an extent, that I could with difficulty see
to read with the best glasses I could procure ;
and my mind was very much impaired and
feeble. Still I continued, with the help of
crutches, to hobble about my room a little, and
when the weather was fine, I would crawl out,
and with great difficulty climb into my chaise
and ride a short distance ; but never suffering
the horse to go faster than a walk, and always
using care to avoid striking the wheels against
the stones.
" In this miserable condition, I took a fancy
to seek amusement for my tedious hours, in
reading medical works : and I had not long
occupied my mind in this way, before I was
fully convinced that the whole course which
I was pursuing for the recovery of my health,
was utterly wrong, and directly calculated
to aggravate and increase my disorders and
13
sufferings, I therefore determined at once
to make an entire change in my regimen. I
threw away all my medicine, wine bitters,
brandy tonics, and every other stimulating and
heating substance : abandoned the use of all
animal food, and put myself strictly upon a diet
of pure water, bread, and other plain, and
mild vegetable food, and kept up my exer-
cise as before. This great and sudden
change gave much alarm to my friends, who
assured me that my new regimen would inevi-
tably and rapidly hasten me to the grave. But
my mind was fully made up on the subject, and
I was not to be shaken from my purpose.
" At the end of the first three months I could
scarcely perceive any decided change for the
better. The anguish of my body was somewhat
diminished, my pains were less acute, my limbs
were not quite so much swolen, my sleep was
more sound and refreshing, and my mind was
more clear and serene. Still however, the im-
provementof my health in all these respects was
very small: but before another three months had
elapsed, the beneficial effects of my new regimen,
were far more manifest and certain : — all my
complaints and ailments were much diminished,
and my strength and activity were considera-
bly improved. I could use my limbs very
well, and with little difficulty, mount my horse
and ride him at a smart trot. My sight im-
proved astonishingly, and became so perfectly
restored that I could easily read the finest
print, without the help of glasses: but the most
wonderful effect was produced on my mind,
which became far more clear and active and
14
vigorous than it had ever been before. In-
deed, no one who has not experienced the
same, can have any adequate conception of
the real intellectual luxury which I enjoyed.
It seemed as though my soul was perfectly free
from all the clogging embarrassments and in-
fluences of the body. I could command and
apply my thoughts at will ; and was able to
study and investigate the most abstruse sub-
jects, and to write with an ease and perspica-
city and satisfaction which I had never before
known, or had any idea of. In truth, if noth-
ing else were to be gained by such a course of
living, than the mental clearness and delight
which I enjoyed, it were fully worth the expe-
riment. But this was not all with me. In
every respect I was a gainer. Before twelve
months had passed in this way, I was perfectly
restored to health : and seemed to have renew-
ed my life. I was entirely free from every
pain and ailment, and was very active, vigo-
rous and more serenely and truly cheerful and
happy than ever before since my childhood.
" Lately, I have not been quite so strict in
my regimen. I have occasionally for conven-
ience sake yielded to the customs of society,
and eaten a little flesh: but I always find that
I am the most active and cheerful, and partic-
ularly, that my mind is the most clear and vig-
orous, when I most strictly adhere to my sim-
ple diet of water, bread, and other vegetable
food. In fact, I have never felt in every re-
spect of body and mind so completely well,
and buoyant and cheerful and happy, as I did
during the latter part of the first year of my
new mode of living, before I had deviated in
15
any degree from the strictness of my simple
regimen. Still however I have been careful
not to deviate so far- as materially to impair
my health.
" After having passed my sixtieth year, and
when I had been for a considerable time unac-
customed to labor; my sons being very much
in need of help, I took my cradle and went
into the harvest field to assist them. My
friends thought it would not do for me, and said
it might make me sick, and perhaps cut short
my life. I was, however, very little apprehen-
sive of evil; and persisted in my undertaking.
My two sons were full-grown robust young
men, and we had also a stout laboring man in
our employ. They led the course, and told
me that I could follow on leisurely behind, as
I found it most for my comfort. But much to
their surprise, I held my way with them all day,
without any oppressive sense of fatigue. I
drank nothing during the day but pure water,
and that only once in the forenoon and once in
the afternoon ; while my three fellow-labo-
rers drank their spirits and water four or five
times each half of the day: and the next day
I felt no inconvenience from my labor.
" I am now sixty three years old and continue
to observe my simple regimen with considera-
ble strictness; dividing my time between read-
ing, writing and exercise. My sight, hearing
and other senses are about as good as they ever
were; my mind is clear and active, my spirit
serene and cheerful, and my body healthy and
vigorous : and I enjoy life far better than I did
in those earlier years, when I had much more
16
intercourse with the bu^ world, and indulged
freely in what most people consider the com-
forts and blessings o^ 'Hjfcarth."
After having spent fuo or three hours with
me in interesting and instructing conversation
concerning his own experience and obversa-
tions in life, the sprightly old gentleman took
his leave of me, and with the activity and vigor
of a young man, mounted his horse and gallo-
ped away ; leaving me to admire in him a re-
markable instance of the renovating powers of
nature, when undisturbed by those irritating
causes which are continually and almost uni-
versally operating in civic life, abridging the
period of human existence, and filling the
world with disease and suffering and crime.
This very intelligent and interesting old
gentleman has only to continue with strictness,
the simple regimen under which he recovered
his health, and he has a fair prospect of num-
bering thirty or forty years more, of healthy,
and serene, and cheerful, and happy existence
upon earth. Apart from the consequences of
human conduct, there is no more necessity for
a man's dying between the periods of fifty and
a hundred years, than there is between the pe-
riods of ten and fifty : nor is there any more
necessity for his becoming decrepid, and help-
less and gloomy, and incapable of enjoying
life in a high degree, and continuing to be an
object of enjoyment and instruction to his '
friends and to society. But "the minding of
the flesh is death ; and he that soweth to the
flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption."
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